We're approaching 11 years in business, and we have more than 200 employees working throughout offices in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. In March 2002, we moved from five separate buildings in Rocky River, Ohio, into a completely renovated, 73,000-square-foot headquarters facility in Westlake, Ohio, that includes on-site amenities such as a diner, state-licensed child enrichment center, hair salon, massage salon, and car-detailing garage. While the company researched relocation packages, ultimately Northeast Ohio presented the best options for our diverse technology company with more than 2,700 customers worldwide.

Many factors were part of the final decision to stay in Northeast Ohio, including workforce issues, education, healthcare, real estate availability, cost of living, and overall quality of life. In addition, I saw the area as moving away from its manufacturing base and focusing more on services and technology.

Positioned squarely in the heart of the United States, Northeast Ohio continues to provide us with a viable workforce, and almost half of the company's employees have received degrees from Northeast Ohio's colleges, including Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, and the University of Akron.

Commercial real estate availability and cost are, quite frankly, unbelievable when compared to other large regions across the United States. While most companies in large cities find they must occupy space on long-term lease agreements, Hyland Software purchased its new building on a 16-acre site with enough land for an additional 126,000-square-foot building and the accompanying parking. And while this scenario is possible in larger cities if companies are willing to forfeit conveniences, our location puts it a true 20 minutes from the airport and next to an upscale shopping center, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and banks. Based on research conducted by the company, if Hyland had purchased its building in Raleigh/Durham or Atlanta, both of which were considered, costs would have been between 19 percent and 29 percent more, respectively.

Access to two of the nation's most respected healthcare institutions, The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, is another reason we remained in Northeast Ohio. In addition, because the average age of employees is 31 and many have young children, the ability to call on the strength of Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital ensures increased peace of mind.

Finally, two factors at the top of Hyland Software's relocation checklist were cost of living and quality of life, because while employees work hard, the company encourages them to play just as hard, if not harder. Northeast Ohio provides great opportunities for people to live the lifestyle of their choice, whether it's homeownership with a white picket fence or a luxury, high-rise apartment overlooking Lake Erie. Activities abound year-round, from world-renowned museums and orchestras to sporting events and festivals. There's something for just about everyone, which is what Hyland Software needs to maintain its diverse staff. Having grown the company in Cleveland, it would have been difficult to leave the area. However, if we had found a region that provided us with reasonably priced commercial real estate, a supported education system, access to top-notch healthcare, low cost of living, and a high quality of life, where it wouldn't have made sense for us not to relocate, I would have moved the company for the good of Hyland Software. But after several months of research, we saw that we really did have everything in our own back yard.

The writer, A.J. Hyland, is Hyland Software's president and CEO.